VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan or 5-door wagon

ESTIMATED PRICE AS TESTED: $25,000 (estimated base price: $25,000)

ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve flat-4, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
Displacement: 150 cu in, 2457cc
Power (SAE net): 265 bhp @ 6000 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 244 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 5-speed manual

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 103.1 in Length: 173.8–180.3 in Width: 68.5 in Height: 58.1 in Curb weight: 3200 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 5.2 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 13.6 sec
Top speed (governor limited): 140 mph

What transmissions did they use? AFAIK, all Subaru 5 speeds are the same basic unit.

At any rate, the biggest flaws I saw for the new WRX, other than looks, were that it's still a 5 speed (the same weaker 5 speed), still the same power and they used the same shitty rubber.

But the WRX is EVO competition!

What transmissions did they use? AFAIK, all Subaru 5 speeds are the same basic unit.

At any rate, the biggest flaws I saw for the new WRX, other than looks, were that it's still a 5 speed (the same weaker 5 speed), still the same power and they used the same shitty rubber.

But the WRX is EVO competition!

Do you, by any chance, have syphilis?

It sounds like the model lineup for Subaru and Mitsubishi got back in line with each other. Craig probably does have syphilis, but from what I remember in the other thread, he nailed it: 2008 WRX = 2008 Ralliart. All you assholes who were so up-in-arms about that can go pound sand.

Directly Incomparable
Hyundai isn't shy about its targets for the Genesis. "While Genesis will compete for customers with cars like Lexus ES, Chrysler 300 and Cadillac CTS," the company stated in a press release about the car's pricing, "Genesis' performance capabilities and luxury features are comparable to sedans costing tens of thousands of dollars more." In other words, Hyundai's strategy for hitting the luxury market target is to hit the competition where it ain't.

So the Genesis is a large, rear-drive luxury sedan that's priced like a smaller front-drive one — at 195.6 inches long it's just 2.4 inches shorter overall than Lexus' flagship LS 460, but the $33,000 base price for the V6-powered Genesis is more than a grand cheaper than the base price of the entry-level ES 350. There isn't really anything directly comparable to the Genesis at Lexus or, for that matter, at any other manufacturer.

So the GS 350 winds up in this test for being the closest thing Lexus has to the Genesis in price, mission, character and specification. Still, the rear-drive V6-powered GS 350 is somewhat smaller than the V8-powered Genesis 4.6 and it costs more. Way more. The Genesis 4.6 carries a base price of $37,000, while the Lexus starts just under $44,000. And if we had opted for a V8-powered GS 460 as Lexus' contender, the price chasm would have grown to more than $12,000.

As tested, the GS 350 came fully equipped at $49,670. The Genesis showed up with a $4,000 Technology package and a $42,000 sticker. That's a thick $7,670 price difference, in case you haven't already made the calculation yourself. Yet the Genesis essentially matched the Lexus luxury for luxury, gizmo for gizmo.

Fuck price.

Where do I start?

Since I don't have my own island yet, I do consider price when purchasing my performance cars. $7k is a pretty big difference to me (and most people, I would wager), which is one of the reasons I bought my (brand new) RX-8 for $25k instead of a considerably more expensive STi or Evo. Although, even if Subaru or Mitsubishi were discounting their cars more I would have been reluctant to pick them over the RX-8.

Are you comparing the RX-8 to the S2000? Do you think I did when I bought mine? I would argue that the RX-8 and S2000 share the same spirit, but one is a practical 4 seater and the other is a purpose-built roadster. I would also argue that the Evo has a similar, if not higher, rate of blown engines than the RX-8. It's pretty obvious that you didn't research that point before you posted.

To reiterate (trying to reply to your post from the top down), the last new car I bought was this RX-8 in July 2007. I am certain that Mitsubishi and Subaru would have liked my business, but I bought the car that I liked the best.

Just because the Evo is faster at a certain track doesn't mean it's the better car. That's a ridiculous reason for most people to buy a car.

Ummmm, why not? They are DIRECT competitors in the marketplace, which would make them perfect competitors for a magazine test. If you're thinking the Evo MR is the direct competitor to the STi, you're basically retarded... the STi Spec C would be the Evo MR's natural competitor. Pretty basic stuff, here.